Meta's Temple data center goes live amid community concerns over water use and expansion
Meta's $1.2 billion data center in Temple, Texas, is now fully operational, serving AI traffic. Despite Meta's claims of water efficiency and community contributions, local residents are concerned about water usage and future expansion, leading to a petition effort for stronger local oversight.
Meta's $1.2 billion data center in Temple, Texas, has officially gone live and is now serving traffic. Alexa Conroy, reporting from the facility, highlighted the company's investment, including $1.7 million in grants, with $400,000 recently announced to fund AI and STEM learning labs for pre-K through 12th grade in Bell County.
Despite Meta's emphasis on community impact and its use of a water-efficient design that reportedly uses nearly no water throughout the year, some local residents have expressed significant concerns. These worries primarily revolve around the data center's water usage and the potential for future data center expansions across Central Texas.
Community members are organizing a petition effort to advocate for stronger local oversight and to limit future data center developments. Organizers hope to get this movement on the ballot later this year, aiming for increased accountability and more stringent regulations on such projects.